the house passed legislation to avoid the fiscal cliff. senate democrats have not. if the president and lawmakers cannot reach a deal in the next five days, automatic tax hikes and major spending cuts are set to kick in and economists warn that could trigger another recession. what else are we hearing from democrats on the hill? >> trace, very interesting comments from vice president joe biden up here for an unrelated matter about the fiscal cliff today. he says, essentially he was asked what do you think will pass? he said if you tell me what would attract republican support, i can tell you what would pass. if asked if he was optimistic, he said he was neither optimistic or pessimistic but was going back to talk to the president. the senate majority leader sounded frustrated with house republican leadership. >> american people i don't think understand the house of representatives is operating out the house of representatives. it's being operated with a dictatorship of the speaker, not allowing the vast majority of the house representatives to get what they want. >>